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Some time ago, parents very much wanted my assistance with their daughter, but when it came time to schedule an appointment, I had to contend with step-dancing on Mondays, piano lessons on Tuesdays, pottery class on Thursdays with sleepovers on Fridays. Barely eeking out C’s, the girl informed me that she did her homework in the car on the way to her various activities. Clearly too muchness was part of her problem.

This reminds me of the proverbial kid in the candy store who wants everything. Parents wouldn’t dream of permitting him/her to have it all. “You’ll get sick! Just pick one or two pieces.” But parents, who want their children to reach their full potential, often throw this sound thinking out the window.

Emotionally children need meaningful relationships with their parents—not as cab drivers, but as moms and dads. Family life and school need to be their top priorities. When they bombard you with the ”I wants,” help them grow up by having them prioritize and select a couple activities (for preadolescents) with one preferably on the weekend. Then, after homework, plan simple family activities—cooking dinner together, family movie night, a hike in our lovely MetroParks. Two of these examples allow for talking, but don’t jump in there and pepper your child with questions. Let him/her take the lead and practice good listening. Remember a relationship with you is much more important than any extracurricular activity.